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Cullen: Gardening can be a child's world

I have been hearing a radio ad lately for Boundless High School in which a friendly sounding announcer suggests that if you send your kid to their 300-acre outdoor classroom for three “unforgettable” weeks, they will send you back a new kid, with a school credit no less.

With summer finally here, I think that it would be great if every one of us took responsibility for just one child and introduced them to the wonders of the garden. Early summer is the perfect time to consider it and, who knows, maybe you would send a “new kid” back to school in September.

I mention this as I believe that the garden provides the perfect educational and experiential opportunity to change young lives. To dig further (pun intended), I went to a professional who has been at this for some time.

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Liz Hood, now the education director at the Toronto Botanical Garden, once oversaw the children’s program at the TBG for some years.

Here is our conversation:

Mark Cullen: At what age should we consider introducing kids to gardening?

Liz Hood: Get them out there as soon as possible. Being at ease outdoors happens through experience in all seasons and weather. Repeated trips to the yard or local park reduces the stresses caused by separateness from nature. Remember that sand, soil and grass (known to be chemical free) are wonderful sensory stimulants for babies and toddlers.

At the age of 4 through 6, a child begins to appreciate the needs of living things. Once they have been exposed to the needs of pets, worms and insects, their understanding that a tree is a living thing (also with needs) comes more quickly.

Lesson: a worm has rights to food, water and habitat. So does a tree.

MC. How best to start?

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LH: As close to home as you can: a windowsill, balcony, your backyard or local park. Start with small experiments to track changes in growth of, say, bean seeds and help them understand that watering and light are needed to play a vital role in their growth and development. Once they are hooked, try giving them a patch for veggies in your yard or a container on your balcony.

And remember that mistakes are evidence of learning so praise experimentation and encourage a natural process of discovery. You might learn something yourself!

MC: What seeds work best? What prep is required?

LH: Beans, sunflowers and nasturtiums (edible flowers, leaves and stems) are all great. Direct sow them into the ground or a pot. This time of year is perfect for heat loving crops like pumpkins, squash, tomatoes and potatoes, but only after a child has had a start at this as they take longer to bring to harvest.

To prepare the area be sure that it is free of weeds and grass (competitors), has at least six hours of sunlight and that water is accessible.

MC: If I am tight for space, how do I get kids interested in gardening?

LH: Invite curiosity by being a role model and include them (remember, this is supposed to be fun). Smell the geraniums, walk on the creeping thyme and give them a whiff, touch the Lamb’s Ears (Stachys) for a tactile experience and watch how nature works with many elements together. The earthworm creates soil, the bee pollinates the flower, the bird builds a nest; everything finishes its cycle and in time provides the source of new soil.

A child’s existing passions provides one of your best opportunities to get them involved. Love to cook? Plant a pizza garden of tomatoes, basil and oregano. Love bugs? Make a garden that attracts really cool bugs. Imaginary games? A fairy garden or a Star Wars garden works. If they like to compete have them grow corn or sunflowers and see who can grow the tallest one.

MC: What experiences hold a child’s interest in the garden?

LH: Like us, kids follow their natural curiosity and passions. Start where they already are and ease them into gardening through the lens of what they love. Make it multi-sensory with smells, textures, sounds and flavours. Help them understand what a bug’s life involves. If they know that ants speak to one another through scent (which they do) and watched them build a nest, how would that change their view of an ant’s life?

MC: Is this about education or entertainment?

LH: Yes (laughing). Before we became a culture that had so much leisure time we had hobbies and passions related to securing our needs. Gardening harkens back to a time when we needed to grow food, identify which plants were edible, medicinal or toxic, and fulfills a biological imperative that we have now all but forgotten.

MC: How does this relate to us and children where the garden is concerned?

LH: We should teach our children how essential healthy soil, water and plants are to life’s continued existence. Research has shown that our immune systems and mood get a boost when we are in contact with the soil.

MC: Can we use the fact that scent is a powerful memory enhancer to our advantage?

LH: Happy memories can be cemented in smells; the smell of sun on pine needles, rubbing the fragrant stem of a tomato plant, or the aroma of a lilac. These smells associated with a parent or other adults’ loving presence and guidance can become a permanent part of a child’s seminal experience.

• The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington offers a summer discovery day camp for children aged 3 to 12. These camps strive to promote healthy environmental attitudes and lifestyles through safe, respectful, fun and diverse outdoor learning experiences. Visit www.rbg.ca for more information.

• The Evergreen Brickworks started their green city adventure summer camp last year. These camps are a four to 10 day exploration and discovery of the green side of Toronto. Visit www.evergreen.ca for more info.

• The Humber Arboretum offers a summer nature camp with daily programs geared to children ages 5 to 13. These specialized nature programs ensure a high level of activity and interest. Go to www.humberarboretum.on.ca.

I am most impressed with the depth of knowledge that Hood brings to her profession. Her enthusiasm comes through as she gets talking on the subject of gardening with children. You could say that she is an adult that is in touch with her inner child and with a sincere passion for gardening and nature.

With advice from Hood and a little effort, I think that we can make a difference. I only wish that the kids could earn a high school credit in the process.

Question of the Week

Q: I have lots of daffodils and tulips in my garden. This year they grew a lot of foliage but not a lot of blooms. How can I increase the amount of blooms for next year?

A: Tulips decline fairly quickly. Usually in their second or third year they produce fewer flowers and smaller flowers than previous years. Remove tulips from the ground in September and separate them. Replant them in a sunny spot.

Daffodils and narcissus will improve from year to year on their own. The time to fertilize your bulbs is now. They are finished blooming and you are going to allow the leaves to remain for six weeks or until they turn yellow. Now is the time they can use some nutrients. I recommend Holland Bulb Booster.

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author and broadcaster. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at www.markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website. Mark’s latest book, The Canadian Garden Primer, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.

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